Collapsible Buckets

G-bone

Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2014
495
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Ventura Ca
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Gold Bug Pro w/ NEL coil.
Minelab Xterra 705,
Bazooka Snipers (24" and 30").
Royal Folding Sluice with Gold hog mats.
Thompson 12V Puffer Drywasher.
Primary Interest:
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Anyone use a collapsible bucket?

I've been thinking about this and doing some searching on them.
Most are used for backpacking and holding water.
So I think they can handle some dirt and rocks too.
Just not sure how long it would last. One season maybe?

This would be for my solo stream prospecting excursions.
24" Sniper Bazooka.
Folding shovel.
Pick and crevasse tools.
14" Pan.
and I need a fold-able Bucket that slips into my pack.

When hiking into places, I want to be as inconspicuous as possible.
I want it all concealed til I get to where I'm going.
"don't mind me. just hiking thru"

I suspect I could use my pan itself as a way to move material from digging to Sluice as well.
But that's not really much material. even a 3 gal folding bucket is like 4 or 5 pans full of dirt.
That's a lot of trips saved.

Any input would be great!

Thanks and cheers

G
 

shadowulf

Jr. Member
Apr 1, 2013
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I've used "grunt bags" for years in the electrical trade. They are durable, about the size of a 5 gallon bucket, and will stand somewhat upright. The american made ones are pricey. The Indian /Chinese ones breakdown sooner but cost a little less. None hold water but carry soil well.
 

Hard Prospector

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Aug 29, 2012
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Been using the canvas ones for years and when prospecting out of a pack their great. The only issue(as Arizau said) they don't stand upright on their own but I've gotten around that by suspending it inside of a tripod when filling. I used to build the tripod out of stout sticks on site and lash them tee pee style but now I use 3 aluminum tent poles (2 bolted together at one end and when spread to form the tee pee the third pole drops into the center of the upper Y then lash the top and run a short length of cord down the middle to a snap that attaches to the canvas handle) Once full they stand upright just fine and the poles attach to my pack frame when not in use. A 5 gal plastic bucket/1/4" classifier with 4 or 5 canvas buckets inside is my favorite system to take into spike camps. Also keep one in my day pack when swinging in case I feel like taking samples.
 

mytimetoshine

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Jun 23, 2013
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G-bone

G-bone

Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2014
495
942
Ventura Ca
Detector(s) used
Gold Bug Pro w/ NEL coil.
Minelab Xterra 705,
Bazooka Snipers (24" and 30").
Royal Folding Sluice with Gold hog mats.
Thompson 12V Puffer Drywasher.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thank you all for your input.

Fowledup,
I figure I won't be classifying per say, although I pull out the obvious.
So with rocks and wet sand, how do the handles hold up?
How long do those bags usually last you?
You gotta figure Amortization costs and all :laughing7:

Mytimetoshine,
I've seen these too, and I think a 2 Gal capacity is do-able but I'd like to see 3Gal.at least.
And I fear the handles a weak link too but Silicone is some strong stuff.

This is what I had in mind originally.
Which is just what Arizau, Shadowulf and Hard Prospector are describing too.
bucket.jpg

Those Canvas buckets aren't cheap!! But I think it will haul the mail and last a few seasons...maybe.
 

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jcazgoldchaser

Hero Member
May 8, 2012
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515
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Interesting with all the plastic versus canvas selections. Environmently speaking, I'd just like to put this out there.

 

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G-bone

G-bone

Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2014
495
942
Ventura Ca
Detector(s) used
Gold Bug Pro w/ NEL coil.
Minelab Xterra 705,
Bazooka Snipers (24" and 30").
Royal Folding Sluice with Gold hog mats.
Thompson 12V Puffer Drywasher.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
LOL!! perfect!

See -us prospectors can be green as well by using Canvas Buckets instead of Plastic.
Saving the world and getting a little Gold to boot.
 

BMOLLMAN

Greenie
Oct 10, 2013
19
32
Primary Interest:
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Thought about using an old pair of jeans, like a gunny sack.
Tying or sewing the leg ends closed.
Using a rope thru the belt loops to close the top.
Bucket classifier could fit in the waist band area. (Depending on waist size of course.)
Should get close to 5-gallons in it. Probably not good for wet material.
Sling it over your shoulder and off ya go.
 

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G-bone

G-bone

Sr. Member
Dec 9, 2014
495
942
Ventura Ca
Detector(s) used
Gold Bug Pro w/ NEL coil.
Minelab Xterra 705,
Bazooka Snipers (24" and 30").
Royal Folding Sluice with Gold hog mats.
Thompson 12V Puffer Drywasher.
Primary Interest:
All Treasure Hunting
Thought about using an old pair of jeans, like a gunny sack.
Tying or sewing the leg ends closed.

Please post pictures of this if you do it!!
A picture is worth a thousand words for sure!!
 

fowledup

Silver Member
Jul 21, 2013
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I haven't thrown any out yet, I have a half dozen or so and I use them for all kinds of stuff not just prospecting. Haven't even had to sew them up yet.
 

BMOLLMAN

Greenie
Oct 10, 2013
19
32
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
Sorry for reviving an old thread. Just used an old pair of jeans that "shrank" on me. Got 6-gallons(over maybe 80-lbs) of 1/2" classified material in the legs. The inseam can really dig into your shoulder, so some padding would be good. IMG_0674.jpg IMG_0684.JPG
 

arizau

Bronze Member
May 2, 2014
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AZ
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Beach High Banker, Sweep Jig, Whippet Dry Washer, Lobo ST, 1/2 width 2 tray Gold Cube, numerous pans, rocker box, and home made fluid bed and stream sluices.
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KevinInColorado

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Jan 9, 2012
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Summit County, Colorado
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Aufisher

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May 12, 2013
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That will strech those pants back into shape! A wash job with some fish oil and ready for action!
 

N-Lionberger

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Dec 1, 2013
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I read somewhere about using an old pair of jeans full of rocks as a Macgyver weight belt for dredging.
 

Assembler

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May 10, 2017
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Sorry for reviving an old thread. Just used an old pair of jeans that "shrank" on me. Got 6-gallons(over maybe 80-lbs) of 1/2" classified material in the legs. The inseam can really dig into your shoulder, so some padding would be good. View attachment 1495892 View attachment 1495893
Wow a great idea there thanks. Will try with a very small conveyor belt off of the crusher output on top of a trailer or rack.
 

GrizzlyGoldTrap

Full Member
Feb 24, 2017
100
337
Colorado
Primary Interest:
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Hi G-bone,

I have been working on a backbacking kit for prospecting with the GGT Nugget also - the bucket I got was a heavy duty 2 gallon bucket -- Infusion Living Collapsible Bucket, Stainless Steel and Silicone. Seems sturdy enough for backpacking, but of course it will prove out after a few more outings. Had it out once and it worked OK. Was large enough to also use for clean out of Nugget. The company makes a variety of compact buckets:
61jR0RTqRSL._SL1500_.jpg

Here is the one I got:
61-wBaVOoSL._SL1500_.jpg

Let me know what you end up using...
 

arizau

Bronze Member
May 2, 2014
2,479
3,854
AZ
Detector(s) used
Beach High Banker, Sweep Jig, Whippet Dry Washer, Lobo ST, 1/2 width 2 tray Gold Cube, numerous pans, rocker box, and home made fluid bed and stream sluices.
Primary Interest:
Prospecting
GrizzlyGoldTrap........I ordered a Rothco collapsible canvas water bucket from amazon to carry screened feed material to my dry washer. A steel ring keeps the top open (it pretty much stands on it's own when empty and folds to about 1"). It is about 9" inside diameter/10" tall but they have a larger one that is 11"/13". Maybe the larger one will suit your purpose too(?).
 

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